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The New York Yankees suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.
The Yankees fell by the final score of 6-3 following a walk-off grand slam from Freddie Freeman.
New York couldn’t get on the board early, trailing 1-0 through the first five innings. However, Giancarlo Stanton continued his incredible postseason stretch with a two-run homer that traveled 412 feet in the top of the sixth.
The Dodgers tied the game due to a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts in the bottom of the eighth, but the Yankees struck once again in the top of the 10th. Jazz Chisholm Jr. showcased his speed following a single, stealing second and third base before scoring on a fielder’s choice to give New York the lead once more.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone initially inserted Jake Cousins for the bottom of the 10th inning, but he was replaced by Nestor Cortes with runners on first and second to go along with one out.
Cortes struggled in his first appearance since Sept. 18, as Shohei Ohtani advanced the runners with a foul ball that was caught out of bounds. Mookie Betts was intentionally walked before Freeman delivered the game-ending homer.
Fans were perplexed by Boone’s decision-making.
Brian Rappaport @BRappy55
Tim Hill has been nails for you all postseason and you go to a guy who hasn’t pitched in weeks. That’s Aaron Boone. #Yankees
Lucas Russo @LRusso24
The fact that Aaron Boone chose to have Nestor Cortes, a pitcher with almost no relief appearances who also hasn’t pitched in over a month, to face Ohtani, Betts and Freeman is exactly why the Yankees lost that game. Zero excuse to have him pitch there. None. #Yankees
Aaron Judge struggled at the plate, going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts. He also popped out with runners on first and second base in the top of the ninth inning.
After the Yankees appeared to be on the verge of taking a 1-0 series lead on the road, they’ll now attempt to avoid falling into a 2-0 series deficit in Game 2 on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. ET.
